Almost anything you do in Photoshop can be recorded as an action to be run later. So anytime you find yourself doing the same thing over and over, think about turning it into an action. Here’s how you make one:
- In the Actions panel, click the Create New Action button
, or choose New Action from the Actions panel menu.
- Give your action a name.
- Click Begin Recording. The Begin Recording button in the Actions panel turns red
.
(When recording the Save As command, do not change the filename or that same name will be create each time. So, before saving, if you navigate to a different folder, you can specify a different location without having to specify a filename.)
- Perform the operations and commands you want recorded (because they are!)
- To stop recording, either click the Stop Playing/Recording button, or choose Stop Recording from the Actions panel menu.
- To run an action, go to the Actions panel and click on the name of the action you want to run and click play.
That’s it! And like I said, almost anything you do in Photoshop can be recorded as an action. And if you’re interested in taking actions to the next level, explore creating Photoshop scripts!
May 5th, 2009
As if Photoshop wasn’t robust enough, it also gives you the ability to load it up even more with creative assets known as presets. Presets are custom settings for specific tools that ultimately allow for more creativity. There are presets for many different tools such as brushes, shapes, patterns, gradients, swatches, layer styles, and even contours for adjustment layers.
There are two ways to make presets. Either create them in Photoshop, or download all the hard work someone else did in creating presets.
Creating a Custom Preset Brush
- Create a graphic you want to turn into a brush.
- Use the Rectangle Marquee tool to select a square graphic.
- Go to: Edit > Define Brush Preset
- Give it a name to add it as part of your brush presets.
- To customize the brush further open Window > Brushes
- Adjust the shape dynamics, scattering, texture, and smoothing.
Using a Preset Brush
- Select the brush tool.
- In the tool options bar (below menu bar) select the brush preset icon to expand the menu.
- Select the brush you just created.
- Paint with brush.
Downloading/Installing Presets
Want to leverage presets already created? Here’s my list of favorite sites for great presets:
http://photoshopmarketplace.adobe.com New!
http://www.brusheezy.com
http://www.noupe.com/photoshop/1000-free-high-resolution-photoshop-brush-sets.html
http://www.psbrushes.net
http://browse.deviantart.com/resources/applications/psbrushes
http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/photoshop
http://myphotoshopbrushes.com
Once you’ve downloaded the presets you want, place them in the appropriate system folder:
PC: Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop X\Presets\Brushes etc.
Mac: Applications\Adobe Photoshop X\Presets\Brushes etc.
May 5th, 2009
Research shows that every unnecessary click has the ability to slow down users’ productivity. And with CS4 these clicks have been dramatically reduced, thus speeding up productivity. The independent study was conducted by Pfeiffer Consulting, who did more than 100 benchmark tests with the following key highlights:
- InDesign CS4 - Production level errors can be identified and fixed twice as fast with Live Preflight.
- InDesign CS4 - Creation and alignment of a new object takes half the time it used to.
- Illustrator CS4 - Artboards help users save 1/3 their time when changing common parameters composed across numerous design pieces.
- Photoshop CS4 - Non-destructive adjustments can be done more than twice as fast.
- Photoshop CS4 - Open GL support helps speed up navigation of images, saving an average of 1 hour and 40 minutes a month.
- Bridge CS4 - New Review mode heps user select images for use twice as fast than in previous versions.
- Dreamweaver - Live Code allows for the checking of a web page in a browser taking 63% less time.
- Dreamweaver CS4 - Round trip editing is done in less than half the time with Photoshop Smart Objects.
- Flash CS4 - Motion tweens can be done in one third the time.
- Premiere Pro CS4 - Speech to Text allows for searching for a phrase, taking 80% less time.
- After Effects CS4 - Searching for a specific layer takes 80% less time.
And more! Check out the study here.
April 20th, 2009
Intersted in learning all you need to know about Flash to create your own dynamic content - in on day? Join me this summer in a city near you to learn all you need to know to be dangerous. And the great thing is, no former knowledge is required! Now it would help if you’re familiar with other Adobe programs such as Photoshop or InDesign, but if you’re a graphic designer, photographer, or someone totally new to graphics you’ll definitly be able to get up and running if you attend!
Come join me in one of the following locations this summer:
Here are the sessions at-a-glance, or go to Mogo Media for more information:
- Getting to Know Flash (10:00–11:00) Get up and running by learning the Flash interface and then creating your first document. From there you’ll create your first flash drawing using tools familiar to most designers, thus creating your first Flash file!
- Creating Symbols & Importing Graphics (11:15–12:15) Symbols are the building blocks of Flash ,and in this session you’ll build a strong foundation using movie clips, buttons and graphic symbols. Want to leverage artwork created in other programs? Learn how to easily import artwork and convert to the symbol of your choice at the same time!
- Creating Animations (1:15–2:30) Using your foundation of knowledge, you’ll dive into Flash’s ample ‘cool’ factor where you’ll build animations that include motion and shape tweens. Want “out of the box” animation? Learn how to use Motion Presets to get your graphics moving in no time at all.
- Introduction to Interactivity (2:45–3:45) In this session we’ll “open the hood” of Flash and really get graphics to do what we want them to do with interactivity. Whether it’s controlling an animation or jumping to another web site you’ll learn the fundamentals of programming in ActionScript 3, without scaring the living daylights of you!
- Bringing InDesign and Illustrator Files to Life (4:00-5:00) In this final session you’ll go beyond Flash by using other programs such as InDesign and Illustrator to create Flash content. You’ll learn how to take a file created for print and bring it right into Flash with full creative control. Do you have content made in Illustrator as well? Bringing graphics in from Illustrator is as simple as a copy and paste. Leveraging all your skills you’ve learned in Flash you’re sure to make your already created designs interactive and animated!
April 20th, 2009
My latest lynda.com title is “Creating a First Web Site with Flash CS4 Professional” is now live! Check it out!
Description: Information on how to learn Flash is prevalent, but it can be frustrating to understand how to make an entire working web site using this unique technology. Here’s a course that cuts through the clutter and offers practical tools for creating a dynamic web site, even for first-time developers. In Creating a First Web Site with Flash CS4 Professional, veteran Flash instructor Paul Trani simplifies the process of integrating animation, video, audio, and user interactivity to create a site that is dynamic and appealing. The goal of this hands-on workshop is to teach web site-building skills for today’s demanding interactive industry. Exercise files accompany the course
Here is a link to the title and here’s the list of topics that are covered:
- Manipulating images for the best results
- Integrating assets from other Adobe products
- Creating buttons with ActionScript
- Embedding links to external web sites
- Exploring text layouts
- Customizing interactive contact forms
Have fun and let me know if you have any questions!
April 17th, 2009
I guess you should be careful when you try to attack the competition. They could one up you:
from the online advertising blog http://www.thedenveregotist.com
April 15th, 2009
Peace, Love, Print! Creative Media & Print Expo ‘09 is the premiere, laid back and freak out print conference where I will be coveing mind blowing features in Adobe Creative Suite 4. It’s being held in Phoenix (April 9th) and Denver (May 12). If you’re in the area come join me for some serious Adobe flower power! Here’s the agenda:
Mind Blowing Features of Photoshop CS4 Extended
Learn to create powerful images with the new Adobe® Photoshop® CS4 software. This demonstration will highlight the more intuitive user experience, greater editing freedom, and significant productivity enhancements included in Photoshop® CS4 that help you achieve desired effects more efficiently, as well as showing how to:
Far Out Content Creation Using InDesign CS4
In this session you will learn how Adobe® InDesign® CS4 software breaks down the barriers between online and offline publishing. Create compelling print layouts, immersive content for playback in the Adobe Flash® Player runtime, and interactive PDF documents.
Tune in and Freak Out with Illustrator CS4, Bridge CS4, and Acrobat 9 Pro
In this session you will freak out over Adobe® Illustrator® CS4 and the creative freedom it gives you to add multiple artboards of varying sizes and display them any way you want! On those artboards you have the creative freedom to interact with gradients and change styles with redefined syles panel and appearance panel as well as much more!
Power to the Print People: A Print Designer’s Guide to Interactivity Using Flash and Dreamweaver
In this very exciting session, learn how the power of interactivity is put in the hand of the print professional with the ability to:
- Create interactive files directly from InDesign
- Export InDesign (XFL) documents and open them in Flash CS4 Professional with the visual fidelity of your original InDesign layout maintained.
- Import Photoshop documents directly into Flash
- Learn the fundamentals of Flash animation
- Add interactivity using ActionScript
- Discover creative tools only available in Flash, including, 3D, Deco Tool, and the Bones tool
You will also learn how to get your Photoshop design on the web using Dreamweaver to create HTML and Cascading Style Sheets to control the design, as well as other new features that make Dreamweaver CS4 the perfect version for those starting out in web design.
March 27th, 2009
First of all, why the heck would you want to do this? A couple of reasons:
- It gives the ability for someone else to modify the Flash content without knowing Flash!
- It keeps you from making many different swfs for projects that are highly similar. i.e. If you need to create many different video players because they’re all going to play different clips. Well, just make the content path to the video a variable in HTML!
Here’s how you do it:
In HTML, add this parameter to your embedded swf object:
value=”videoName=testVideo1″ name=”FlashVars”
If you wanted to add more parameters you’d write it this way:
value=”videoName=testVideo1&theLogo=kentwood” name=”FlashVars”
In Flash, create a Flash File - ActionScript 3.
In the first frame place two dynamic text fields with the name videoNameText and theLogoText on the stage.
Add this code in your Actions panel.
this.loaderInfo.addEventListener(Event.COMPLETE, loaderComplete);
function loaderComplete(myEvent:Event) {
var flashVars=this.loaderInfo.parameters;
videoNameText.text = "videoName from HTML: " + flashVars.videoName;
theLogoText.text = "theLogo from HTML: "+flashVars.theLogo;
}
Publish your swf and HTML.
Place the HTML parameters in the HTML code.
Preview in Browser. You should see the following in the text fields
videoName from HTML: testVideo1
theLogo from HTML: kentwood
With what you’ve learned above you’re able to control content in Flash from HTML! Very handy.
March 17th, 2009
I recieved this position from Tiffany at Sony Imageworks. Seems like a pretty cool position so I thought I’d pass it along:
The position is based in Culver City California. Basic Description: The Senior Designer is responsible for the original design and maintenance of Sony Pictures web-based projects, client projects, and other design elements, including ad banners, print and other presentation assets. The Senior Designer creatively manages a team of designers, associate designers and/or production artists. The ideal candidate will have an excellent web design portfolio and offer expertise designing user experiences for web audiences. A strong understanding of interface design and usability issues will be required during project discovery, design and development phases. The Senior Designer reports to the Art Director. The position is located in Culver City, California.
Any interested candidates can contact Tiffany Herrington directly at therrington@imageworks.com and should include a resume with their email.
March 17th, 2009
Here is an interesting article about the state of the computer book market and some current trends in technical knowledge and the popularity of computer languages. You will see that C# has been steadily growing year after year while Java has been going in the opposite direction during the same period. PHP, ActionScript and Python are the other languages going in a positive direction. In fact, Actionscript in particular has made the jump into the top tier programming languages. As for C#, you could attribute its growth due to it being the language used in programming applications for the iPhone.
So, in short, if you program in C#, Actionscript, PHP or Python, your probably in demand as a programmer. But then again, computers themselves are just a fad anyway. 
March 8th, 2009
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